Combination envelope and letter paper



April 17, 1951 Filed July 12, 1948 Zmventor M attornegs,

Patented Apr. 17, 1951 COMBINATION ENVELOPE AND LETTER PAPER Nicholas Hodska, Stratford, Conn.

Application July 12, 1948, Serial No. 38,265

Claims. 1

This invention relates to a combination envelope and letter paper, and has for an object to provide a one-piece structure which has the function of both furnishing a space for the message and also of forming an envelope for enclosing it.

It is also an object to provide a structure which may be easily, quickly and effectively sealed and yet may be readily opened without requiring the use of a mechanical apparatus or letter opener.

Another object is to provide a device of this character which has means to facilitate proper folding of the device and sealing, and which when folded has the general appearance of the standard type of envelope.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific detalls'of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the outer or address side of the device in the expanded or opened position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of the other side of the device open for the writing operation;

Fig. 3 is a view of the. device closed showing the address side, and

Fig. 4 is a view of the back of the closed device.

The device comprises a central panel In and upper and lower panels II and I2 respectively forming fiaps connected to the upper and lower edges respectively of the central panel ID by creased folding lines 13 and I4. Adjacent each of the opposite end edges of these panels or flaps is a line of tearing perforations 15. These lines of perforations arespacedinwardly a short distance from the outer or free end edges l6 of the panels to form narrow tabs l1, I8 and I9 which are gummed on their inner surfaces, as indicated at 20. It is preferred to gum all three tabs I1,

I8 and I9, although if preferred the adhesive may be omitted from the central panel tab l8 and used only on tabs 11 and I 9. Extending across the creased folding line I4 is a narrow slot 2| in a line with the tearing perforations l5, and this slot i partly inthe panel In and the lines of tear perforations 24a.

partly in the flap l2 so that when folded, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, this slot forms a notch Zia in the lower edge of the folded edge, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 4, in line with perforations l5. The upper and lower flaps H and 12 are also provided with markings 22 and 23 respectively on the side opposite from the writing side, so that when the two panels or flaps ll and I2 are folded over the central panel Ill, as indicated in Fig. 4, these markings may be brought into alignment to insure the flaps are properly folded for squared ends in the folded position, and also to insure that in this position the perforatedtearing lines l5 of the three panels are in alignment or superimposed relation.

Secured at the free edge of the upper panel or flap II is a pull-up sealing tab 24. This is secured preferably on the outer side of the flap H, with about half of it overhanging, and the under surface of this overhang is gummed, as indicated at 25. In the central portion of this tab it is cut to form a rectangular pull-up tab or hand grip 26 which is free along the edges 21 and 28 but is attached to the sealing tab at its inner end, but is free of glue or gum on its underside. The sealing tab 25 is provided along its center line on each side of the handle 26 with On the outer side of the central panel II] are the lines 29 for the address in the usual position and lines 30 for the return address, and the stamp 3| may be either printed on this panel, or a separate gummed stamp may be used if desired. Extending over the folding line l4 on the outer tabs 18 and I9 are preferably provided reinforcing pads 32 forming hand grips. These are small strips of paper, or fabric if preferred, glued to the outer surface so as to extend across the fold and thus extend on both sides of this fold in the folded position of Figs. 3 and 4.

The device may be sold either flat or open, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, or folded, but of course unsealed. In use, the message is written on the inner surface of the panels H, I!) and I2, between the perforated tear-off lines l5. When the letter is finished, the gummed tabs ll, I8 and H are moistened, and the lower panel or flap l2 folded about the line [4 onto the lower part of the central panel II], as indicated in Fig. 4,

outer surface of the lower panel or flap l2.

care being taken that the lines of perforations [5 are kept in alignment, and the moistened gummed end tabs I8 and I9 are pressed together. Then the upper panel or flap II is folded down over the central panel I!) about the creased fold line I3, as shown in Fig. 4, and the two flaps II and I2 are of such a width that the free edge portion of the upper flap overlaps the free edge portion of the lower flap, as indicated in Fig. 4. In this folding operation, the two marks 22 and 23 are brought into alignment, assuring that the flaps are square and the lines of perforations I5 are in aligmnent and superimposed on each other. Before folding over the flap II, the under side 25 of the pull-up sealing tab 24 is moistened, so that when in the folded position this moistened overlapped portion is sealed to Ttfie e usual addresses and stamp may, of course, be applied to the front or outer surface of the central panel I0.

In opening the letter, the receiver grips the 7 main body of the letter in one hand and the hand grip or tab 32 between the thumb and finger of the other hand, and by pressing it laterally, tears off the end tabs Il, l8 and I9 along the line of the perforations I5 beginning at the notch Zla, and this notch facilitates the beginning of the tearin operation and. insures that the tearing off will be along the line of perforations only. The opposite end tabs I1, I8 and I9 are removed in the same Way. Then by slightly bending or curving the central or body portion remaining, the free end of the tab'26 will be shifted outwardly from the sealing tab 24 and maybe gripped by the thumb and finger and raised to form a handle for raising the free edge Ila of the upper panel to openthe letter, the line of perforations 24a permitting this tab 24 to tear across the center, thus freeing the upper flap II, so that the two flaps II and I2 may be unfolded and the message or letter read.

It'will be seen that with this device the letter and the envelope are one unitary structure; that the letter may be easily and quickly and very effectively sealed, with no'danger of its being tampered with without indicating this fact, and still the receiver can easily and quickly open the letter by merely tearing off the two end strips or tabs and lifting the upper flap by means of the pull-up tab or handle 2d. With the pull-up tab 26 cut from the sealing tab 24, as shown, it normally lies in the plane of the tab 24 and its free end is protected so it is not apt to catch on other articles and be pulled up by so catching on other articles, but the free end can be easily moved outwardly or exposed where it can be gripped by the thumb and finger by merely slightly bending the sealed device longitudinally through the tab 24.

Having thus set forth the nature of my invention, I claim:

l. A combination envelope and letter paper comprising a central panel, upper and lower flaps connected along the upper and lower edges respectively of said panel by creased folding lines and of a width to overlap at their free edges when folded over the central panel, a line of tearing perforations along the opposite ends of the panel and flaps and spaced inwardly from their end edges to form narrow tear-off tabs, said tabs being ummed on their inner surfaces, a sealing tab secured to the upper flap at the top edge thereof provided with a gummed portion overhanging said edge for attachment to the 4 lower flap when folded, and a loose pull-up tab forming a finger grip formed in said sealing tab.

2. A combination envelope and letter paper comprising a body panel and upper and lower panels connected to the body panel by creased folding lines along its upper and lower edges respectively, said panels being each provided with a line of tear perforations spaced inwardly a short distance from their free outer edges providin tear-off tabs, the inner surfaces of at least the tabs of the upper and lower panels being provided with adhesive, said upper and lower panels being of a width to fold over the body panel and overlap at their free edges, asealing tab on the free edge of one of said upper and lower panels and overlapping the other panel and gummed .a line of tear perforations spaced inwardly a short distance from their free outer edges providing tear-off tabs, the inner surfaces of at least the tabs of the upper and lower panels being provided with adhesive, said upper and lower panels being of a width to fold over the body panel and overlap at their free edges, and the body panel and one of the other panels being provided with slots passing over the folding line between'them in alignment with the lines of perforations forming a starting notch when the panels are folded. v

4. A combination envelope and letter paper comprising a body panel and upper and lower panels connected to the body panel by creased folding lines along its upper and lower edges respectively, said panels being each provided with a line of tear perforations spaced inwardly a short distance from their free outer edges providing tear-01f tabs, the inner surfaces of at least the tabs of the upper and lower panels being provided with adhesive, said upper and lower panels being of'a width to fold over the body panel and overlap at their free edges, a sealing tab on the free edge of the upper. panel .and including a gummed portion overlapping the lower panel when the upper and lower panels are folded over the body panel, said sealing tab being providedwith a line of tear perforations at the free edge of the upper panel, and alift-up tab forming a handle free at its outer end and secured to the sealing tab for separating the upper panel from the lower.

5. A combination envelope and letter paper comprising a body panel and upper and lower panels connected to the body panel by creased folding lines along its upper and lower edges respectively, said panels being each provided with a line of tear perforations spaced inwardly a short distancefrom their free outer edges providing tear-off tabs, the inner surfaces of at least the tabs of the 'upper and lower panels bein provided with adhesive, said upper and lower panels being of a Width to fold over the body panel and overlap at their free edges, a sealing tab at the free edge of the outer of the overlapped panels and including'a gummed portion overlapping-the inner panel, said sealing tab being provided with a line of tear perforations along the edge of the outer panel and a lift tab 5 secured to the sealing tab and free at its outer end to form a handle for lifting the outer panel from the inner panel, the body panel and one of the other panels being provided with a slot in alignment with the line of tear perforations across these panels and extending over the fold line between them to form a starting notch when folded, reinforcing grip tabs secured on the outer surfaces of the tear-off tabs of said latter panels and passing'over the fold between them, and aligning marks on the upper and lower panels to indicate when the panels are square and the tear-off lines in alignment.

NICHOLAS HODSKA. 15

6 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 123,389 Foster Feb. 6, 1872 299,202 Cox May 2'7, 1884 880,909 Oneal Mar. 3, 1903 10 1,351,559 Engel Aug. 31, 1920 FOREIGN PATENTS Number a Country Date 114,694 Germany Oct. 25, 1929 208,225 Great Britain Dec. 13, 1923 

